National Institute of Malaria Research (ICMR) IIR-WHO Project, Field Unit, Kondagaon, Chhattisgarh, India.
National Institute of Malaria Research (ICMR), Sector-8, Dwarka, New Delhi, 110077, India.
Malar J. 2017 Aug 8;16(1):320. doi: 10.1186/s12936-017-1968-8.
The burden of sub-patent malaria is difficult to recognize in low endemic areas due to limitation of diagnostic tools, and techniques. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a molecular based technique, is one of the key methods for detection of low parasite density infections. The study objective was to assess the additional burden of asymptomatic and sub-patent malaria infection among tribal populations inhabiting three endemic villages in Keshkal sub-district, Chhattisgarh, India. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in March-June 2016, during the low transmission season, to measure and compare prevalence of malaria infection using three diagnostics: rapid diagnostic test, microscopy and nested-PCR.
Out of 437 individuals enrolled in the study, 103 (23.6%) were malaria positive by PCR and/or microscopy of whom 89.3% were Plasmodium falciparum cases, 77.7% were afebrile and 35.9% had sub-patent infections.
A substantial number of asymptomatic and sub-patent malaria infections were identified in the survey. Hence, strategies for identifying and reducing the hidden burden of asymptomatic and sub-patent infections should focus on forest rural tribal areas using more sensitive molecular diagnostic methods to curtail malaria transmission.
由于诊断工具和技术的限制，低流行地区亚临床疟疾的负担难以识别。聚合酶链反应（PCR）是一种基于分子的技术，是检测低寄生虫密度感染的关键方法之一。本研究旨在评估印度恰蒂斯加尔邦凯什卡尔区三个流行地区部落人群中无症状和亚临床疟原虫感染的额外负担。2016 年 3 月至 6 月，在低传播季节进行了横断面调查，使用三种诊断方法（快速诊断试验、显微镜检查和巢式 PCR）来测量和比较疟疾感染的患病率。
在纳入研究的 437 人中，有 103 人（23.6%）通过 PCR 和/或显微镜检查呈疟原虫阳性，其中 89.3%为恶性疟原虫病例，77.7%无发热，35.9%为亚临床感染。
在调查中发现了大量无症状和亚临床疟疾感染。因此，识别和减少无症状和亚临床感染隐性负担的策略应侧重于使用更敏感的分子诊断方法来遏制疟疾传播的森林农村部落地区。
